Electroencephalograph electrode coordinator



April 13, 1948. M. A. BUFFINGTON ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH ELECTRODECOORDINATOR Filed March 7, 1947 Patented Apr. 13, 1948 UNITED STATESPATENT "OFFICE.

ELECTROENCEP'HA'LOGRAPH EIiECTltOlIE COORDINATOR Marvin A. Buflin'gton,Cleveland, Ohio Application March 7, 1947, 'serialm. 733,249

11 Claims. 1 4

l Iy present invention relates to'electroencephalography and moreparticularly comprises a coordinator device for suspending the electrodeelements in a conveniently positionable manner while maintaining saidelectrodes in a separated condition wherein the individual electrodesare readily 'identifiable'and their identification coordinated with theidentification of their lead terminals at the terminal board of theelectroencephalograph. V v

In the practice of electroph'alography, it is usual to provide a numberof electrodes adapted to be secured in diiierent positions upon thescalp or head of the patient whose encephalograph record is to be made.These'electrodes are connected by suitable lead wires to theelectroenc'aphalograph apparatus, consisting of electrical ampliiiermeans for amplifying the minute electrical impulses produced at thelocations of the electrodes secured to the patients head or scalp, andsuitable recording mechanism for making a graphic record of theelectrical impulses are pro duced. By proper selection of variouscombinations of two or more electrodes secured to the patients scalp orhead for recording of electrical impulses produced at the -selectedlocations, the technician is enabled to secure a graphic record ofconditions existing in certain areas of the patients brain as indicatedby electrical impulses produced at the pro-selected area of the patientsbrain.

Under the foregoing conditions it is highly important that theindividual electrodes secured to the patients scalp be at all timesreadily iden tiiiable in their relation to or coordination withparticular lead wires selected for recording of the brain waveelectrical impulses produced at certain areas of the patients brain, sothat the technician may at all times be assured or advised as to theportion of the patients scalp or head from which the electrical impulsesare coming to produce a given portion of the encephalograph record. Inthe practice of electroencephalography, according to present techniques,certain difiicul ties arise in the foregoing connection. These difficulties include the tendency of the lead wires to become entangled,with consequent difficulty of identifying the electrodes in relation totheir terminals at the terminal board. Another difficulty arises fromthe fact that the unsupported weight of the lead wires pulls upon theelectrodes and tends to break the contact thereof'with the head of thepatient, or result in poor contact reducing the value of theen'cephalogra'ph record made under such condition.

The foregoing difiiculties have made necessary the use or "lighter anless flexible wire than is desirable, and t'hisin turn has madenecessaryfre quent replacement of electrodes as the wire adj'a cen-t'same{becomesstretched or broken in use.

aitrhiauv'e technique u'tiliaes a head band electrodeholder whichinvolves other difficulties since it "is necessary to rely upon pressurefor contact of used-aces with the scalp of the patier' 't rather thanpositive securing of the electrode to the scalp of the patient by meansof an adhesive as possible in the technique to which the presentinvention relates.

In the light 16f theforegoing, therefore, it is the principal "object"of my invention to provide an electrode coordinator d e vic e eapau ofsuspending theelecti'ode s their lead wires in a conve'nie'ntlyman-incurable segregated and readily identifiable condition. H

Another important objectlof the invention isto provldesucha attenuatordevice which Will allow a free andunobstructed view for theelectroencephalographerof the patients head during use of the apparatus.n Y

Another )bject of the invention is to provide such a device enablingelectrodes to have longer life and reducing the necessity for frequentrea me ioith' rece s A further object of the invention is to producesuch a coordinator device whereby in theme thereof the production ofartifacts or recording of conditions extraneousor unrelated to theconditions desired to be recorded, is minimized.

In genei'althe coordinator device of my inventioh comprises a pluralityof flat ring-like members and means for supporting said members inspaced concentric parallel relation, said means extending from a basemember which is slidably and rotatably mounted in an adjustable mannerupon a carrier shaft so that the whole device is convenientlym'anipulatable and adjustable to different positions in both verticaland horizontal planes. The ring-like members are each provided with aplurality cruises openings through which pass the lead wires for therespective electrodes attached to the free ends of said wires. The wholedevice is preferably made substantially entirely of transparent plastic,or other suitably similarinaterial so as to permit the operatortechnic'ian to have an unobstructed view of the patient s head at alltimes. The outer ring-like memberadjacent the free ends ofthe electrodeshas its respective openings designated by suitable indicia appropriatelyidentiifiyin'g the respective electrode; The electrode lead wires are ofrugged the electroencephalograph apparatus embodymg my invention, andshowing the electrode ordinator device and the terminal board for the 7terminal ends of the electrode lead wires.'

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the eleclead wires being omittedfrom this view.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking to-' ward the left of Figure2.

Figure 4 is a View showing the outer or face ring-like member alonehaving the indicia thereon differently designating the respectiveopenings therein.

Now referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 the portion ofthe electroencephalograph equipment including a terminal boarddesignated by the numeral I, having a plurality of sockets or plugreceiving elements designated by suitable numeral indicia on the face ofthe board numbered from I to I2, and one socket being designated by theletter G indicating the ground terminal. The plug receiving elementsdesignated on the face of the board I are adapted to receive the plugterminals of the respective electrode lead wires, designatedindividually by the numeral 2. The terminal board I connects theelectrode lead wires 2 through suitable switching means to the electricamplifying means and recording means of the electroencephalographapparatus, the latter means not being shown in the drawings.

The electrode coordinator itself comprises the vertical carrier shaft 3suitably secured to bracket a mounted upon the framework of theoperators cage, not shown. Slidably and rotatably mounted on the carriershaft 3 is a base member 5 consisting of a block of Lucite or othersuitable transparent material. Suitably connected to and extending fromthe base member 5 are four rods 6 comprising means forsupporting theflat ringlike members i, 8, and 9 which are mounted in concentric spacedparallel relation upon the rods 6 in any suitable manner such as thatshown wherein the rods 6 pass through openings provided in saidring-like members, the latter being secured permanently to said rods inthe aforesaid concentric spaced paralled relation of said ring-like.members.

Said members I, 8, and 9 are each provided with a plurality of alinedopenings designated respectively by the numerals II], II, and I2, thenumber of said openings II], II, and I2 being suflicient to accommodatethe number of electrode lead wires employed, each of the lead wires 2extending through alined openings II), II, and I2 of the members 1, 8,and 9. Each of the lead wires 2 has attached to its free end arespective electrode element I3 consisting of electrically conductivemetallic material such as solder or the like.

Electrode lead wires 2 preferably comprise a type of wire known astinsel wire which consists of a fabric sleeve covered cord made up ofstrands of linen thread on which have been spun numeral againstcorrosive elements, particularly acetone ribbons of copper. Thesestrands are woven together to make a continuous cord of great strengthand flexibility, well insulated, which has the same electricalcharacteristics as the type of solid wire (usually No. 29 enameledcopper wire) which is commonly used in the apparatus employed in thetechnique to which the present invention relates. The tinsel wireemployed by me is bonded inside the soldered pellets comprising theelectrodes I3 and sealed at the point of entry by an acetone resistingtape, indicated by the I4, which ensures the positive seal used in thetechnique employed by me. The other ends of these wires 2 are attachedby heat bonding to plugs I5 which are inserted in the numerically.designated plug receiving openings of the terminal board I. Componentsof these plugs I5 are removable without disturbing the bond to the wire2, so that the wire 2 may be removed or installed at will.

Thus the lead wires 2 employed by me are of very rugged though extremelyflexible construction, and these factors, together with the method ofattachment of the electrodes I3 is such as to prolong the life of theelectrodes and greatly reduce the frequency of replacement, since thelead wires may be flexed greatly and frequently relative to theirelectrodes as necessary in attaching the latter to the head of thepatient without detaching the electrodes from the lead wires and withoutreducing the efliciency of the electrical contact therebetween.

The supporting rods 6 and ring like members I, 8, and 9 are preferablyalso composed of Lucite or other suitable transparent material throughwhich the vision of the operator is largely unobstructed, so that he canhave unobstructed vision of the patients head at all times, although thecoordinator device is in his line of vision between his eyes and thepatients head as is necessarily the case under various conditions of useof the apparatus.

The outer ring-like member 9, or face flange, of the coordinator deviceis provided with suitable indicia numerically designating certain of theopenings I2 by numerals from 1 to 12 as indicated in Figuresl and 4,thereby providing means for identifying the respective electrode I3,including the one designated by the letter G for the ground terminalelectrode, for coordinating or correlating the respective electrodes I3with the position of attachment of their respective lead wires 2 to therespective socket or plug receiving elements of the terminal board I,likewise designated by corresponding numerical and letter indicia.

The base plate 5 is provided with suitable adjusting means comprisingthe set screw I6 cooperable with the carrier shaft 3 to enable a portionof the coordinator device comprising the base plate 5, supporting rod 6,and members I, 8 and 9 to swing in a horizontal plane rotativelyaroundthe axis of the rod 3 and to be adjusted vertically by upward anddownward movement relatively to the shaft 3 axially thereof, the setscrew I6 enabling the movable elements to be fixed in desired positionsof adjustment after said movable elements have been swung rotatively, ormoved axially of said shaft 3 to the desired position. 7 r

In the use of the electroencephalographicapparatus embodying theelectrode coordinator device herein described, the patient will beseated with his head adjacent the face flange I2, the

elements of :the deviceincluding the base memberi5, :rods :ltand members'1, .8, and 9 being adjusted ttothe desiredposition by 'rotative andaxially sliding movements of the base member :1elative "to shaft :3.lh-ereupon, the operator or {technician will suitably attach theelectrodes [-3 :to the patients scalp, drawing the lead wires 2ithrough-theopenings in the members 1, Band 9 {to increase the length ofsaid wires -2 extendingifrom the'outer side of the .face fiange :9, asdesired, sufficient-slack in the lead wires between theterminal plugsliiaand the electrodes'l3 thereof being provided for this purpose.Having secured any desired "number of the electrodes 13 togthe patientshead, arranging the same to the desired .location thereon, theoperator-technician isnow ableto select desired areas of the patientshead :for recording of .brain wave-electrical impulses produced at anyselected area of the patient-Ts head. This selection is accomplishedbyswitching means at the terminal board I or other:place-intermediate'the latter and the reeordingapparatus. Theswitchingmeans will cut into :the amplifier zrecorder circuit selectedones of :the numerically designated plug receiving socketsof theterminal board I, and the correspondingly numerically designatedelectrodes is Connected with the patients head at known areas.

The use of the coordinator device of the invention greatly, facilitatesthe work of the-technician operator in making electroencephalographrecordings since it prevents entanglement of the electrodes and theirlead wires, maintains them in segregated and readily identifiablecondition, and in conveniently manipulatable condition readilypositionable in the desired location for facilitating the operation ofattaching the electrodes to the patients head. The use of thecoordinator device further eliminates the weight factor of the wire,eliminating the tendency of the latter to pull the electrodes from thehead of the patient by the weight of the wire. The device thereforepermits the use of heavier, and at thesame time more flexible and ruggedelectrode lead wires, and this flexibility and the manner ofattachmentof the lead wires to the electrodes prolongs their usable lifeand greatly lowers frequency of replacement.

:It will be understood that there is sufiicient slack, or extra length,in the lead wires 2 to permit the same to be'drawn through thesupporting members I, '8, 9 so that the electrodes l3 may bedisposedaconsiderable distance from the face member :9, as maybe necessary tosecure the electrodes 13 in electrical contact with the patients scalp.When not in use, the lead wires 2 will be drawn in the oppositedirection through the members I, 8, 9, so that the electrodes 13 aredisposed adjacent the face flange 9 as shown in Figure 1. In the lattercondition it will be understood that the lead wires 2 hang down from theterminal board I looping below the members I, 8, 9 between said terminalboard l and the points of entry of said wires 2 into the openings II]from the rear side of member 1, referring to Figure 1. Only one of thelead wires 2 is fully illustrated, by way of example, in said loopedcondition in Figure 1, the other wires 2 being broken away for clarityof illustration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, a base member slidablyand rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of flat ring-like .members, meansassociatedwith-saidbase memberforsupporting saidring-like members in :spacedrelation concentrically disposedand with-their planes parallel to oneanother, and means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said basemember for adjusting the .same in different ro-tative and axial,positions relative to said shaft, said ring-likemembers'eachhaving aplurality'cf circumferentially spaced openings, each of said openingsbeing alined with a respective opening on each-of theother ofsaid'ring-like members.

.2. -An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprisinga carrier shaft, a base member slidably and rotatably mounted on saidshaft, -a plurality of fiat ring-like members, means associatedwith saidbase member for supportin'g'said ring-like members in spacedrelation'concentrically disposed andwith'theirplanes parallel to oneanother, and means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said basememher for adjusting the same in different rotative and axial positionsrelative to said shaft, said ring-like members each having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective-opening on each-of the other of said ring-likemembers, a'plurality of flexible wire elements each of the latterextending through respective alined openings of said ring member, and arespective electrode secured to each respective wire element adjacentthe free :end thereof.

3. An electrode coordinator device-of the class described, comprisinga-carrier-shaft, a base member slidably androtatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of .flat ring-like members, means associated withsaid base member for supporting said ring-like members in spacedrelation concentrically disposed and with their planes parallel toone'another, means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said basemember for adjusting the same in different rotative'and axial positionsrelative to said shaft, said ring-like members each having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective opening on each of the other of said ring-likemembers, and a plurality of flexible wire elements, 'each of the latterextending through respective alined openings of said ring members.

4. In electroencephalographapparatus, in combination, a terminal board,a plurality of electrode lead wires having their terminal ends securedthereto, an electrode coordinator device comprising a carrier shaftdisposed in fixed relation to said terminal board, and means rotatablyand slidably mounted on said carrier shaft for supporting said wires insegregated condition.

5. In electroencephalograph apparatus, in combination, a terminal board,a plurality of electrode lead wires having their terminal ends securedthereto, an electrode coordinator device comprising a carrier shaftdisposed in fixed relation to said terminal board, and means rotatablyand slidably mounted on said carrier shaft for supporting said wires insegregated condition, said means comprising a plurality of spacedmembers having a plurality of openings therein for receiving said wires,each opening in each of said members being alined with an opening ineach of the other members each lead wire extending through respectivealined openings in said members.

6. In electroe'ricephalograph apparatus, in combination, a terminalboard, a plurality of electrode lead wires having their terminal endssecured thereto, an electrode coordinator device comprising a carriershaft disposed in fixed relation to said terminal board, and meansrotatably and slidably mounted on said carrier shaft for supporting saidwires in segregated condition, said means comprising a plurality ofspaced members having a plurality of openings therein for receiving saidwires, each opening in each of said members being alined with an openingin each of the other members each lead Wire extending through respectivealined openings in said members, and a respective electrode securedsecured to each respective lead wire adjacent the free end thereof, saidlead wires having sufficient extra length to permit the same to belooped intermediate the terminal board and the point of entry of saidwires to said openings of one of said members when the electrode ends ofsaid wires are disposed adjacent another of said members.

7. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, and means rotatably and slidably mounted on said carriershaft for supporting a plurality of wires in segregated condition, saidmeans comprising a plurality of spaced members having a plurality ofopenings therein, each opening in each member being alined with anopening in each of the other members, and means for adjusting the firstmeans to different rotative and axial positions relative to said shaft.

8. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, a base member slidably and rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of fiat ring-like members, means associated with saidbase member for supporting said ring-like members in spaced relationconcentrically disposed and with their planes parallel to one another,and'means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said base member foradjusting the same in different rotative and axial positions relative tosaid shaft, said ring-like members each having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective opening on each of the other of said ring-likemembers, said members being composed of transparent material.

9. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, a base member slidably and rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of flat ring-like members, means associated with saidbase member for supporting said ring-like members in spaced relationconcentrically disposed and with their planes parallel 8, to oneanother, means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said basemember for adjusting the same in different rotative and axial positionsrelative to said shaft, said ring-like members each having a pluralityof circumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective opening on each of the other of said ring-likemembers, and a plurality of flexible wire elements, each of the latterextending through respective alined openings of said ring members, oneof said ring members being provided with indicia differently designatingthe different openings.

10. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, a base member slidably and rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of flat ring-like members, means associated with saidbase member for supporting said ring-like members in spaced relationconcentrically disposed and with their planes parallel to one another,and means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said base member foradjusting the same in different rotative and axial positions relative tosaid shaft, said ring-like members each having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective opening on each of the other of said ring-likemembers, the said carrier shaft being disposed with its axissubstantially vertical for vertical adjustment of the said base memberaxially of said shaft and for rotative adjustment of said base member ina horizontal plane.

11. An electrode coordinator device of the class described, comprising acarrier shaft, a base member slidably and rotatably mounted on saidshaft, a plurality of flat ring-like members, means associated with saidbase member for supporting said ring-like members in spaced relationconcentrically disposed and with their planes parallel to one another,and means adjustably cooperable with said shaft and said base member foradjusting the same in different rotative and axial positions relative tosaid shaft, said ring-like members each having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings, each of said openings being alinedwith a respective opening on each of the other of said ring-likemembers, a plurality of flexible wire elements, each of the latterextending through respective alined openings of said ringmember, and arespective electrode secured to each respectivewire element adjacent thefree end thereof, the electrodes comprising metallic pellets and theirrespective wire elements being bonded within respective pellets andsealed at the'point of entry by an acetone resisting tape.

. MARVIN A. BUFFINGTON.

